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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Tribute paid to farmers putting Christmas dinner on our tables [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tribute paid to farmers putting Christmas dinner on our tables [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 December 2023.

    Environment Secretary invites people to raise a glass to UK farmers and food producers this Christmas.

    As the UK stocks up on groceries ahead of Christmas Day, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has paid tribute to the British farmers, food producers and retailers supplying our favourite festive fare.

    From Scottish salmon and Norfolk turkeys to Yorkshire sprouts and the Kent apples which fill our mince pies, the best of British produce is the trademark of a traditional Christmas dinner.

    According to the British Poultry Council, UK households will tuck into a staggering 8-9 million turkeys this Christmas – 90% of which are British.

    Data from Kantar shows that two-thirds of the cheese and vegetables bought in the run-up to Christmas last year were British. Brussels sprouts remain a favourite accompaniment, with over 25,000 tonnes of British sprouts bought last year – over a third of which were in the festive season – alongside 3,500 tonnes of cranberry sauce, almost half of which was enjoyed at Christmas.

    Meanwhile UK consumers spent £45 million on nearly 19 million Christmas puddings and £132 million on 98 million packs of mince pies last year.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Our farmers and food producers work hard all year round to keep the nation fed – but especially in the run up to Christmas to meet the demand for their top-quality, high-welfare, seasonal produce.

    Gathering friends and family round the table to share great food is one of the best things about Christmas, but it’s so important to remember where it all comes from.

    This year, I invite everyone to raise a glass to the dedicated farmers and food producers who fill our plates at Christmas.

    Jim Bligh, Director of Corporate Affairs and Packaging at the Food and Drink Federation, said:

    Food and drink manufacturers are working hard during the festive period and play a crucial role in producing and supplying food and drink so that households can enjoy their Christmas meals with friends and family.

    The food and drink industry has many unsung heroes that will be helping to provide the much-loved food we eat at Christmas time, and I wish them all a very Happy Christmas.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government levelling up funding in Scotland approaches £3bn [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government levelling up funding in Scotland approaches £3bn [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 23 December 2023.

    Local and regional investment is delivering real dividends for communities across Scotland.

    The UK Government’s levelling up funding in Scotland has now reached £2.92 billion, an increase of £840 million (40 per cent) since the end of last year, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack revealed today [Saturday 23 December].

    That is the equivalent of £535 for every person in Scotland. At the end of 2022 it was £380 per person. The total is set to rise with millions of pounds of further investment in 2024.

    The huge funding boost is after another 12 months of working with local partners to identify ways to transform communities, create jobs and boost the economy.

    The new figure comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement of £8 million from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund for 17 projects in Scotland. That brings the total Scottish Community Ownership Fund investment so far to £13.6 million for 43 projects.

    The £2.92 billion UK Government support comprises more than £1.5 billion investment in City Region and Growth Deals, and more than £1.4 billion in further levelling up investments ranging from Freeports and Investment Zones to regenerating town centres and saving local community assets.

    Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

    I’m delighted to confirm that our levelling up commitment to communities across Scotland now stands at more than £2.9 billion. It has been a bumper year in both the pace and scale of investment right across Scotland. This money is making a real impact, rejuvenating communities, creating jobs, boosting the economy and attracting further investment.

    We are seeing the dividends of listening to the ambitious ideas of local organisations and bringing in the resources to make things happen. We are focused on continuing to work with local partners and the Scottish Government to deliver the change that the country needs to put Scotland and the UK on the right path for the future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Syria’s chemical weapons remain a threat to international peace and security – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Syria’s chemical weapons remain a threat to international peace and security – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2023.

    Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Tom Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria chemical weapons.

    Thank you President, and in this last open briefing on the agenda for this month, let me join others in congratulating you for the manner in which you and your team have conducted your Presidency this month.

    I would also like to thank Director Ebo, as always, for his detailed briefing and to express gratitude to the Director-General of the OPCW for his 122nd report and to the OPCW more broadly for its ongoing and vital work to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention.

    President, contrary to the expectations of the Representative of the Russian delegation, the UK welcomes the 25th round of consultations between the OPCW and the Syrian regime that took place last month in Damascus.  We commend the OPCW Declaration and Assessment Team for their hard work to reconcile discrepancies in Syria’s declaration.

    However, it is nonetheless important that we are clear: this limited concession does not redress Syria’s long-standing non-compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Syrian regime has consistently blocked the OPCW’s work, refusing visas and insisting on unacceptable conditions.

    President, the Declaration Assessment Team is of course entitled to full and unfettered access to inspect any and all sites in Syria, not just the limited in-country activities that they have conducted this year. And as Director Ebo briefed, sampling by the Declaration Assessment Team at two sites in April 2023 indicated further issues with Syria’s declaration of its chemical weapons holdings. Not only does this reduce what little faith we had in Syria’s declaration, but it clearly demonstrates Syria’s continuing disregard for the Chemical Weapons Convention and the principles that nearly all of us around this table uphold.

    President, as we have said many times before, the outstanding issues on Syria’s Chemical Weapons Declaration are not academic. They include the whereabouts of hundreds of tonnes of chemical weapons agents and thousands of munitions. Syria’s chemical weapons remain a threat to international peace and security until its chemical weapons programme has been fully and verifiably destroyed.

    We therefore welcome the decision in November of the Chemical Weapons Convention Conference of States Parties. This new decision will strengthen cooperation between States Parties to address the global threat from the Syrian Regime’s non-compliance, in particular by taking concrete steps to stop the transfer of toxic chemicals and the materials needed to produce chemical weapons from entering Syria until it fully complies with its Chemical Weapons Convention obligations.

    President, the lack of progress on this file is not a reason to reduce our attention on it. On the contrary, it is the lack of progress that requires this Council to remain seized of the matter. Ten years on from its adoption, the provisions of UNSCR 2118 have not been met. The outstanding issues on Syria’s Declaration are unresolved and independent international investigations have found the Syrian Regime responsible for at least nine chemical weapons attacks on its own people.

    We owe it to the thousands of victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria and elsewhere to continue our work until Syria’s chemical weapons no longer present a threat to international peace and security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK is doing everything we can to get more aid into Gaza – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK is doing everything we can to get more aid into Gaza – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2023.

    Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

    President, the United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of this resolution to get more aid into Gaza.

    As my Foreign Secretary has said, it is heartbreaking to see children in the rubble of their destroyed homes, not knowing where to find food or water, not knowing where their parents are. It is also heartbreaking to hear the stories of families who still do not know the whereabouts of their loved ones who were brutally taken on 7 October.

    And it is heart wrenching to know that aid is piling up outside Gaza but not getting to the people that need it when we hear daily warnings that people are starving, disease is spreading, and basic healthcare is lacking.

    The UK is doing everything we can to get more aid in.

    We have tripled UK aid to the region.

    We were the first country to call on Israel to open more crossings.

    The UK has experts on the ground providing logistical support at Al-Arish in Egypt.

    And today, we support this resolution which will streamline aid checks so we can massively scale up the humanitarian response; demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages; and calls for steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities.

    For the avoidance of doubt, we are clear that the resolution is without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the parties under international humanitarian law.

    The adoption is an important signal of the Security Council’s commitment.

    President, our actions today, and in the future, must help ensure the horror of 7 October never happens again.  We unequivocally condemn Hamas’s acts of terror and support Israel’s right to self defence.

    My Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have been loud and clear in their calls for a sustainable ceasefire, as soon as possible. But a ceasefire will not last if Hamas is still able to operate in tunnels and launch rocket attacks.

    Our commitment to Israel’s security is firm as Israel deals with the threat from Hamas.

    Ultimately, we support a two-state solution that guarantees true security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

    We thank the UAE for their leadership on this resolution.

    Just this week, my Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East travelled to Jordan and Egypt to make sure we are supporting every effort to get aid in faster.

    We will keep working with all partners to deliver a humanitarian response that meets the huge level of need.

    I thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Roadmap published to accelerate growth in port towns and cities [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Roadmap published to accelerate growth in port towns and cities [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 22 December 2023.

    The UK Government has announced an action plan of over 50 measures to further accelerate the success of Freeports – a policy reviving the UK’s port communities.

    • Over 50 measures including £150 million fund will boost successful Freeports policy, along with special tax incentives extended to 2031
    • New strategic roadmap will help key port areas build on Freeports’ £2.9 billion investment and creation of 6,000 jobs
    • Plans will be implemented to set timeframes, ensuring timely action to benefit local people in port communities

    The government has set out a new roadmap to further accelerate much-needed trade and investment in key port areas across the country.

    The successful Freeports policy introduced in 2021 is already empowering strategically located port communities to realise their economic potential – and in just two years, has attracted almost £3 billion of investment which will create over 6,000 jobs.

    The new Freeports Delivery Roadmap will help Freeports to go even further by laying out an action plan of over 50 cross-government measures. These include:

    • A £150 million Investment Opportunities Fund to help Freeports and Investment Zones respond quickly to land large investment opportunities as they arise.
    • Extending the window to claim special tax reliefs in English Freeport sites from five years to ten – securing a whole decade of growth for port communities.

    Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said:

    We are already seeing the vast and undeniable opportunities that Freeports are bringing, having brought in almost £3 billion of investment, which will create thousands of long-term jobs in sectors of the future.

    Our action plan in the Freeports Delivery Roadmap will maximise the potential of these communities to become centres of innovation and investment, with clear delivery timeframes to ensure rapid progress.

    Our goal is to improve lives for local people in areas historically overlooked and Freeports are helping us achieve that.

    The government is committed to taking the long-term decisions required to strengthen the economy, and Freeports are at the heart the government’s levelling up agenda, creating opportunities for everyone – from UK citizens and businesses to foreign investors – and providing vital local regeneration. There are currently twelve Freeports in Great Britain: eight in England, two in Wales and two in Scotland.

    Other measures in the roadmap include:

    • Improving infrastructure: The UK Infrastructure Bank will work with Freeports to finance upgrades to infrastructure, including through flexible loans to local authorities and debt, equity or guarantees to private sector investors.
    • Skills and workforce access: Ensuring joint working between Freeports, Institutes of Technology and local colleges, and linking local jobseekers to opportunities at Freeports through Jobcentre Plus.
    • Investment promotion: Bringing government departments together to look at targeted interventions where Freeports face barriers to investment.
    • Programme delivery: Creating an independent advisory panel for Freeports, to increase the business voice within the programme.

    The appeal of Freeports is becoming increasingly evident, having already unlocked significant investments including:

    • £175 million from Siemens Gamesa to expand its offshore wind blade manufacturing facility in Humber.
    • £150 million from ScottishPower to develop a project with Hutchison Ports exploring the development and construction of a multi-hundred MW green hydrogen production facility at Port of Felixstowe.
    • £130 million from Associated British Ports at the Port of Southampton, for a shore power project and terminal operating system in support of the automotive sector.

    Some of the measures outlined in the Freeports Delivery Roadmap also apply to Investment Zones, which are boosting productivity and growth in areas in need of levelling up.

    Together, Freeports and Investment Zones are forming a network of economic hotbeds across the country designed to stimulate private investment into high-potential places, providing more high-priority jobs for local people and levelling up the economy.

    The UK Government will work with the devolved administrations to agree how the 10-year window to claim reliefs can be extended across Freeports in Scotland and Wales.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Paris terror attack – compensation for victims [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Paris terror attack – compensation for victims [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 December 2023.

    Information about claiming compensation if you were a victim of the terrorist attack in Paris France on 2 December 2022.

    The terrorist attack in Paris, France on 2 December 2022 has been designated as an act of terrorism by The Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

    Applications can be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012 (VOTCS) by those victims injured, or the families of those killed, in the attack. You can get more information in CICA’s guide to the VOTCS.

    You do not need a paid representative, such as a solicitor or claims management company, to apply for compensation.

    Free independent advice may be available from Victim Support or other charitable organisations. You can get support as a victim of terrorism on GOV.UK

  • PRESS RELEASE : Consultations on transfer of PCC functions to two regional mayors [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Consultations on transfer of PCC functions to two regional mayors [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 December 2023.

    Government to consult on transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to West Midlands and South Yorkshire Mayors.

    Plans to transfer the oversight of the local police force in the West Midlands and South Yorkshire from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Mayor will be consulted on, the Home Office has announced this week.

    As part of the plans to give these locally elected Mayors a greater overview of the police, the public can expect greater collaboration across public services, helping to cut crime and keep our communities safe.

    This is already the case in London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

    Last week, the government announced that overall police funding available to forces in England and Wales will increase by up to £922.2 million next year, should PCCs choose to take full advantage of police precept flexibility. This will help to support frontline policing in their area and maintain the officer numbers.

    Under the settlement, West Midlands Police would receive up to £789.4m, a 6.8% increase in cash terms compared to last year. South Yorkshire Police would receive up to £355.1m, a 6.1% increase in cash terms compared to last year.

    Earlier this year, the government met its commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers, meaning there are now more officers in England and Wales than ever before. West Midlands Police have recruited an additional 1,376 officers through the police uplift programme, whilst South Yorkshire Police have recruited an additional 519 officers.

    The consultations on the proposed transfer of Police & Crime Commissioner functions to the West Midlands and South Yorkshire Mayors were launched this week (Wednesday 20 December) and will run for 6 weeks to allow the public to share their views on the proposals.

    The government will carefully consider the responses received before deciding whether to introduce legislation to enact the change.

    Any changes will be effective following the mayoral elections in May 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Significant intervention to cap rail fares comes as government delivers target to halve inflation [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Significant intervention to cap rail fares comes as government delivers target to halve inflation [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 December 2023.

    Fare increases capped at 4.9% and will not increase until 3 March 2024.

    • most regulated rail fares will be capped at 4.9% instead of the July RPI figure which has been historically used
    • lower fare cap comes after government delivers target to halve inflation by the end of the year
    • rail fare increase is significantly lower than July’s 9% rate and set to come in on 3 March 2024 so passengers benefit from cheaper fares for longer
    • increase necessary to support the long-term financial stability of the railway and deliver reforms

    The government has today (22 December 2023) announced a significant intervention to cap next year’s rail fare increase at 4.9%, considerably below the 9% July’s retail price index (RPI) figure on which they are historically based.

    This comes as the government delivers its commitment to halve inflation by the end of the year with the latest statistics showing inflation is at its lowest level for over 2 years at 3.9% – helping to keep fare rises lower in the long term.

    Since 1996, under both Labour and Conservative governments, regulated rail fares have increased closely in line with RPI inflation – never being more than 1% above or below RPI before last year’s significant government intervention.

    Today’s announcement means fare increases are lower than last year’s rise and will not increase until 3 March 2024. This means passengers will not see any changes in their fares until then, giving them more time to purchase season tickets at the current rate and keeping fares as low as possible for longer. Fare changes will now take place in March every year moving forward.

    The regulated fare cap for National Rail operators in England is also significantly lower than in Scotland where rail fares are set to increase by 8.7% from April next year.

    Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

    Having met our target of halving inflation across the economy, this is a significant intervention by the government to cap the increase in rail fares below last year’s rise.

    Changed working patterns after the pandemic means that our railways are still losing money and require significant subsidies, so this rise strikes a balance to keep our railways running, while not overburdening passengers.

    We remain committed to supporting the rail sector reform outdated working practices to help put it on a sustainable financial footing.

    Today’s announcement builds on last year’s unprecedented intervention, which saw government cap the increase for 2023 at 6.4 percentage points lower than the 2022 July RPI figure. This means the government will have helped keep ticket prices more than 9% lower than what passengers would have paid if rises matched the RPI benchmark in the last 2 years.

    With changes to working and travel patterns, there are significant challenges facing the railways. From July to September 2023, rail revenues were 78% of pre-pandemic levels once inflation was taken into account. Over the past year (2022 to 2023), the taxpayer has provided £12 billion in support for the railways, which is over £420 per household, as it continues to deal with a persistent revenue shortfall after COVID-19.

    Some fare increases are, therefore, necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of our rail network, as are cost-saving reforms which ministers have urged rail unions to agree with.

    The 4.9% increase strikes the right balance to keep our railways running and financially sustainable, while not overburdening passengers with excessive fare rises as we bear down on inflation.

    This comes on top of further government interventions to keep the cost of travel more affordable. Since January 2023, single bus fares in England have been capped at £2 thanks to government funding. The bus fare cap had been due to rise to £2.50 in November 2023 but we are keeping the fares down at £2 until the end of next year to help millions of people make significant savings on their travel costs.

    The bus fare cap has helped cut fares in England outside London by 7.4% between June 2022 and June 2023, with even bigger savings in rural areas where fares have dropped by almost 11%. This extension is only possible due to the redirected High Speed 2 (HS2) funding as part of our Network North plan and takes the total government investment to keep bus fares down to nearly £600 million – with over 140 operators signing up to continue offering the cap across more than 5,000 routes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK music strikes festive chord Down Under thanks to new trade deal [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK music strikes festive chord Down Under thanks to new trade deal [December 2023]

    The press release issued by Department for Business and Trade on 22 December 2023.

    The UK’s trade deal with Australia is ringing in festive cheer this year, having helped British music companies expand Down Under ahead of the festive period.

    • UK music businesses feel benefits of Australia trade deal which slashed tariffs and cut red tape for British exports
    • London-based music tech company expands presence Down Under to help musicians recoup royalties over lucrative Christmas period
    • British musicians featured in three of the top 10 Christmas songs in Australia last year

    The UK’s free trade agreement with Australia is ringing in festive cheer this year, having slashed tariffs and helped British music companies expand Down Under ahead of the lucrative festive period.

    Backed by British legends Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, London-based music tech company Audoo produce smart listening devices, or Audio Meters, which are placed in pubs, shops and bars to identify when and where music is being played and ensure musicians are paid for that play.

    The UK’s trade deal with Australia has made exporting for Audoo easier, slashing tariffs on their product, simplifying paperwork and speeding up the customs process. This has helped them more than double the number of Audio Meters found in Aussie venues, rolling them out across all major cities including Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide, ensuring musicians are paid fairly over the festive period – a key time for sales.

    British Christmas bangers feature heavily during Australia’s festive period, with three of the top 10 songs last year featuring UK artists.

    According to Bloomberg, in 2018 artists and record companies were losing out on almost $3 billion in unaccounted royalties each year.

    Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

    British music is rocking around the world’s Christmas trees for a reason and Australia is no exception, with our iconic tunes ringing out across Aussie cities over the festive period.

    All our music artists really want for Christmas is to get the payment they deserve, regardless of where their song is being played. Our trade deal with Australia makes it easier for businesses like Audoo to expand Down Under and fill our stars’ stockings with well-earned royalties.

    Audoo Founder & CEO Ryan Edwards said:

    Launching across Australia has been a major step in our journey as a proud British business growing on a global scale. The free trade agreement helped us accelerate our implementation ensuring our mission to deliver accurate data for fair royalty distribution.

    Melbourne took the crown as the most festive Aussie city in 2022, with Christmas songs accounting for 34% of all music played from November to December 31st, rising to 43% in December.

    The UK-Australia free trade agreement came into force in May 2023 and under its beneficial terms tariffs on all UK goods exports to Australia have or will be removed, making UK products more competitive in the Australian market.

    This is the first trade deal that the UK has negotiated from scratch since leaving the European Union and is expected to increase trade with Australia by 53%, boost the economy by £2.3 billion and add £900 million to household wages each year in the long run.

    The deal also cuts red tape that was faced by more than 13,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK who already export goods to Australia, ensuring goods leave customs quickly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Simpler road signs to protect small animals and boost safety [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Simpler road signs to protect small animals and boost safety [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 December 2023.

    Changes will help protect crossing routes for hedgehogs and other small animals, particularly on rural roads in England.

    • new warning sign to help drivers identify wildlife hotspots and be better protected from hazards
    • more signs could help boost wildlife numbers and reduce harm to small animals
    • simpler process for installing small animal warning signs for local authorities will make it easier to protect hedgehogs

    Hedgehogs and other small animals will be better protected on English roads under rule changes announced today (22 December 2023) to make it easier for local authorities to put up wildlife warning signs.

    The current hedgehog sign will be updated following feedback from the sector to make it clearer for drivers. Alongside this, rules around the small wildlife warning signs will be relaxed to make it easier for local authorities to put up small wildlife warning signs, helping to better protect hedgehogs and other small animals.

    Changes made by the Department for Transport (DfT) will ensure local authorities are able to place small wild animal warning signs where they are needed most rather than having to apply to DfT on a case-by-case basis.

    To mark the change, Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, visited Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire to meet a host of furry – and spiky – friends, many on the mend from road accidents. Touring the facility, he witnessed a hedgehog undergo surgery for a leg injury, ran a bath for hydrotherapy treatments, helped to weigh animals and witnessed one hedgehog pose in front of the new-look sign.

    Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

    It was an absolute pleasure to see behind the scenes at the famous Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, where I witnessed the incredible work they do to heal a wide range of wildlife.

    These common-sense changes will lead to more small animal signs across the country, cutting down on bureaucracy to help protect both drivers and small animals, improving safety on our roads and making sure fewer casualties are checked into wildlife hospitals like these.

    The small animal warning sign depicts a hedgehog and was first introduced in 2019. As well as cutting the restrictive red tape preventing them being placed, the government has also refreshed the design by adding white quills to the hedgehog’s back. This will improve clarity and make it more visible from a distance for all road users.

    The changes will also help protect vital crossing routes for hedgehogs and other small animals, particularly on rural roads. Hedgehog numbers have dropped by between 30% and 75% in rural areas since the millennium, with traffic a major factor in the decline.

    Colin Stocker, Chief Executive Officer at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, said:

    On behalf of myself and everyone here at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital, we were delighted to welcome Mark Harper to the hospital to hear more about the policy change that will make the process for erecting small animal road signs easier.

    A lot of the 14,000 animals admitted to us every year come in due to road traffic accidents and making motorists more aware of their presence, and encouraging them to be more cautious is a great step towards helping British wildlife.

    We were able to show Mark around our hospital and he was able to see some of the patients we currently have and meet the veterinary team behind the lifesaving work carried out here. We hope this policy change will result in more signage that, in turn, will remind motorists to be mindful of British wildlife when out and about.

    Today’s announcement will help reduce bureaucracy for local authorities, allowing them to focus their resources more effectively on delivering for their communities. It follows recent announcements committing to improving conditions for motorists across the UK under the Plan for drivers.

    The Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital was established by Les and Sue Stoker in 1978 as a refuge for injured animals to receive treatment and rehabilitation.